After navigating through the night, we arrived at the western waters of the Galapagos archipelago. This is an area known for its biological richness, particularly its marine life. we woke up early in the morning to enjoy a fantastic sunrise, and we were lucky to find a pod of hundreds of common dolphins. With all that joy, we headed to breakfast and then celebrated crossing the equatorial line.
We jumped into our Zodiacs to explore the cliffs of Volcan Ecuador in northern Isabela. Here, we saw Nazca boobies, brown noddy terns, Galapagos fur seals and sea lions, storm petrels and the unique flightless cormorant. Immediately after, we donned our wetsuits for a snorkeling session in Punta Vicente Roca. This is one of the best sites to see hundreds of Pacific green sea turtles underwater. After all our fantastic activities, we returned to National Geographic Islander for a hardy lunch.
In the afternoon, we traveled to Punta Espinoza, the only place in Fernandina Island where tourists can visit. This is one of the most pristine islands of the Galapagos, and home to the largest concentration of marine iguanas in the world. We saw hundreds of iguanas, sea lions, sea turtles and various species of seabirds. This day has been full of exciting encounters, but beyond that, a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the importance of protecting places like these for future generations. We shared many astonishing moments and enjoyed the gentle breeze and peaceful environment of Fernandina and Isabela island.
